Deepak on Jesus

Deepak Chopra is a man who was raised in India and educated in the west. He was a senior doctor for many years, becoming increasingly involved in the TM movement. He helped them develop an Ayervedic program (traditional Indian medicine) then broke out on his own, writing a prolific number of books and becoming quite well known.

Recently, Deepak has written 2 books on Jesus – The Third Jesus – The Christ we Cannot Ignore & Jesus – a Story of Enlightenment. Unity Online began a series of 6 x 1/2 hr interviews with Deepak, discussing the first book. Rev. Wendy Craig-Purcell interviewed before a live audience. They called the series Jesus and the Awakening to God-Consciousness. You can view them by ordering a DVD or, until Nov 26, view the segments free online.

The first most obvious question is why “Third” Jesus? The first is the historical person we know little about. The second is the theological Jesus presented by various Christian churches, one that was developed over time. The third is the state of God consciousness, approaching which we can find the truth for ourselves, without belief. The only way to understand Jesus is through experience of his state of consciousness.

Deepak brings an interesting perspective to the table, seeing the west both externally and internally. He often references Indian concepts, blending them with western ideas. They discuss a number of key ideas from the Bible and another way to view a few of them, such as the oft-quoted ‘no one gets to God except through me’. Chopra speaks of the original word ‘me’, meaning the larger divine I that contains the individual. In other words, through what we commonly call Self in the west. Or another way, not through Jesus the person but through the Christ within all of us.

They touch on the 5 common arguments – that of literal, rational, mystical, skeptical and consciousness, the last one Deepak chooses. Understanding Jesus comes from understanding consciousness.

The book outlines 15 steps to God Consciousness but the show discusses just some of those, out of order. For myself, I would view these not as steps but rather lessons many must meet along the path. [pages are noted where they are quoted in the workbook] They are the key teachings.

Step 1: The Kingdom of Heaven is within you. [Pages 144-145]
Step 2: Be in the world but not of it. [Pages 145-146]
Step 3: For my yoke is easy and my burden is light. [Pages 146-147]
Step 4: Ask and you will receive. [Pages 147-150]
Step 5: Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. [Pages 150-152]
Step 6: Be still and know that I am God.
Step 7: As you sow, so shall you reap. [Pages 153-155]
Step 8: Resist not evil. [Pages 155-157]
Step 9: In my father’s house are many mansions.
Step 10: You must be born from above. [Pages 160-162]
Step 11: You are the light of the world.
Step 12: So do not worry about tomorrow. [Pages 164-166]
Step 13: Abide in me, as I abide in you.
Step 14: For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am among them.
Step 15: What does it profit a man to gain the world if he loses his soul? [Pages 172-174]

On this blog, I’ve spoken a lot about the path to awakening. Also it’s 3 stage nature – self-realization, God-realization, and Unity. The videos focus on the second but Deepak makes a point to mention Unity that follows. He also speaks of the personal, collective, and universal ‘domains of consciousness’ I typically refer here to as the 3 dreams. The book also talks a little about the paths – of devotion, service, and contemplation, known in the east as bhakti, karma, and gyan.

You can see the correspondence with the chakras, although you’ll note I talk about moving up and connecting to the divine, then the divine moving down and forward through the higher 3 states. GC, for example, has a lot to do with a deeper value of the heart.

At one point he suggests you ask yourself – Am I a doing, a thinking, a feeling or a being? Shift into being, just stop. From there, what am I feeling? Invite love and creativity and action will flow. They talk about the soul, karma, and the world as a mirror. He speaks of the shadow self and how humans have confused differentiation with separation. The mistake of the intellect. He speaks of the mask of goodness many spiritual people have. The more self-righteous they are, the stronger the shadow. How this can be personal or collective. I speak of the shadow story here.

When we are connected to the soul (4th state), you become aware of who is listening. We shift to nonlocal. 5 things get amplified by this:
Infinite possibilities
Nonlocal connectivity, sync, coincidence
Proliferates in uncertainty. Certainty squelches
Creativity
Co-creation, intention

In the final interview, Deepak talks about 3 words from the east:
Simran – to remember, who you are. Go into silence.
Satsang – gather together in truth.
Seva – service to God, every thought, word and action. Do what needs to be done in the moment and leave the results to God.

For me, there was little new here but he did beautifully illustrate how the universal spiritual truths are present in all teachings, particularly those of Jesus. And this, in spite so much theological dogma that has been laid on top.